Is Happiness attainable?

Let’s dive into the flow state together and explore its impact on happiness and inner peace. In my article you can learn about Mihály Csíkszentmihályi’s theory and how to achieve the experience of flow in your everyday life.

I do not believe that there is such a thing as being happy 0-24 hours a day. But there are very defining moments, activities, when we feel it:

“Yeah, that’s great, I wish I could stay in this state”.

For me, it was like this at my wedding, it’s like this when I write, when I paint, when I laugh so hard my stomach hurts… So it’s definitely during activities and events where I’m actively involved and everything around me disappears. A lot of times at work I feel like that and sometimes it lasts for days – I forget to eat and I don’t even get hungry, I just get into the flow and that’s what happens, then, nothing else. Maximum in the present. And nothing else matters. (I’m not saying that all my flows are perfectly fine, especially when I “get away” for too long… but we have to work on that too)

The search for human happiness has been a subject of human interest for thousands of years.

Ancient philosophers, such as Aristotle, already recognised the central role of happiness in human aspirations. The feeling of happiness comes at peak moments such as a sporting achievement, a graduation ceremony or a child’s first smile. Interestingly, happiness is not only found in favourable circumstances, but also in difficult times, such as in the case of concentration camp prisoners who felt happiness when they heard the sound of birdsong.

According to Mihály Csíkszentmihályi’s flow theory, happiness is achieved when we are fully immersed in an activity.

The conditions necessary for a state of flow are universal and available to all, regardless of culture, gender, age, social and economic status. These conditions include setting clear goals, experiencing a strong concentration of mind, losing track of time, getting immediate feedback, and finding a balance between activity and ability.

Achieving the flow experience contributes to inner peace and happiness

…no matter where we start from. In this state, external noises and distractions disappear, allowing us to focus fully on the present moment and enjoy every moment of the activity.

In today’s society, many of us struggle with burnout, stress and the constant need to perform.

Scheduled, often overwhelming daily lives, social media expectations and the quest for perfection are making life difficult for more and more people. In this fast-paced world, the pursuit of happiness and self-fulfilment often creates contradictions: on the one hand, we long for perfection, but also for inner contentment and peace of mind.

In this situation, the experience of flow can be a kind of refuge for us.

Think of a painter who is completely immersed in the canvas and everything else around him fades away. Or a programmer who is immersed in writing code.

But achieving a state of flow is not just the prerogative of artists and creative professionals.

Anyone can experience it, whether it’s a hobby like gardening or even a job. The key is to choose an activity that is challenging but also fun. It can help us find inner peace and happiness, even in the midst of stressful everyday life.

The flow experience is mainly facilitated by two things: dopamine and a reduction in cognitive load.

The flow properties also target these two areas:

  • Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in the brain in regulating reward systems, motivation, mood and movement.
  • Cognitive load is a psychological concept that refers to the amount of information or tasks the brain has to process and solve in a given period of time. An increase in cognitive load means that the brain has to work harder to process information, which affects performance and decision-making.

To achieve the flow state, these properties must be reproduced.

The tips are also linked to these flow triggers.

  1. Curiosity and passion
  2. Autonomy
  3. Clear objectives
  4. Total concentration
  5. Immediate feedback
  6. Creativity
  7. Risk
  8. Complexity
  9. Deep immersion
  10. Surprise and unpredictability
  11. The right balance of challenge and ability

The flow experiences in our lives show that happiness depends not only on external circumstances, but also on our inner state.

Learning to be in the moment and appreciate our activities in the present can bring us one step closer to finding inner joy and contentment despite the challenges of today’s society.

Flow not only helps us find happiness, but also helps reduce stress, increase creativity and improve our overall wellbeing.

He points out that the attainment of happiness does not necessarily depend on external circumstances, but on our inner state, on total immersion in the present moment.

So, my dear followers, the most important lesson is not to strive for external success, but to find the activities that make us truly happy and to take the time to do them.

Allow yourself to step away from the noise of the outside world and immerse yourself in the experience of flow. I think this is what can really contribute to a happy and balanced life.

Aletta Nagy-Kozma
Aletta Focus Marketing